MASNsports.com is your online home for the latest Orioles and Nationals news, features, and commentary. And now, you can connect with MASN on every digital level. From web and social media to our new mobile alert service, MASN has got all the bases covered.
Get the latest breaking news direct to your phone with our mobile texting service.
Looking for a way to take advantage of the beautiful weather this weekend? I've got an idea for you. Tomorrow morning, members of the Ravens organization will participate in the Packard Center's fourth-annual Fiesta 5K, a race with proceeds benefiting ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) research at Johns Hopkins. O.J. Brigance, the Ravens' director of player development, will serve as the event's honorary
In the past, Santonio Holmes has been trouble for the Ravens' secondary. Recently, he's just been trouble. Holmes, who became a Super Bowl hero with the Steelers and was recently traded to the Jets, was reportedly escorted off an airplane Thursday night because he refused to turn off his iPod. According to reports, Holmes talked with officials and eventually was allowed back on the plane.
Seemingly year-in and year-out, the Ravens have been short a receiver or two. That's no longer a problem. In fact, the Ravens now will have some difficult decisions to make regarding their receiving corps. You see, they have too many options to choose from. Yes, you read that correctly. The Ravens have too many wide receivers. Here's the list of wideouts who are in the
Because of the depth on the Ravens' roster, none of the team's recent draft picks are expected to have a starting job waiting for them when the 2010 season begins. But that doesn't mean that they won't have an immediate on-field impact. Many of the players recently selected by GM Ozzie Newsome are expected to see plenty of playing time on special teams, an aspect
Before I discuss the Ravens' 2010 offensive outlook, let's take a peak back at 2009: The Ravens scored 391 points last year, which tied the 1996 Ravens squad for the best offensive season in team history. They posted 5,619 total net yards, the second-most in franchise history. They had 320 first downs, also the second-highest mark since the team moved to Baltimore. That was with
Historically, the Ravens have had great success finding talent among the pool of undrafted players. Bart Scott, Wil Demps, Maake Kemoeatu, Jameel McClain and Dannell Ellerbe can attest to that; they were all signed by the Ravens as rookie free agents, battled their way onto the roster, and went on to contribute to the team. Here's the list of reported undrafted signees who will attempt
While draft analysts are lauding the Ravens' selections in rounds two and three of last weekend's draft, the team's final four picks are drawing rave reviews as well. With that said, I thought I'd pass along some inside information on all of the Ravens' Day Three picks, courtesy of director of college scouting Joe Hortiz. You'll also find some key notes and stats on each
Those of you who are interested in what jersey numbers the Ravens' draft picks were assigned, this post is right up your alley. Those of you who aren't, you can feel free to stop reading now. The Ravens have announced the jersey numbers of their seven draft picks. Here they are: Sergio Kindle, OLB: #49 Terrence Cody, DT: #63 Ed Dickson, TE: #80 Dennis Pitta,
For GM Ozzie Newsome and director of player personnel Eric DeCosta, the decision to trade down out of the first round on Thursday night wasn't an easy one. As an organization that prides itself on building through the draft and successfully finding the next wave of young playmakers, the Ravens go into every draft confident that they will find a Pro Bowl player with their
Things haven't slowed down for the Ravens' front office just because the draft ended. They've been active early on in the undrafted free agent market, agreeing to terms with a number of players who will compete for roster spots in minicamps and training camp. Among those players are two cornerbacks, two linebackers, a wide receiver/tight end, a defensive lineman, a safety and a running back.
The only place kicker currently on the Ravens' roster is Billy Cundiff, and it's clear that GM Ozzie Newsome would like to add another kicker to compete with the six-year veteran in training camp. Newsome said today, however, that the competition will not come from an undrafted free agent. "No, I don't think we'll be signing a rookie kicker," Newsome said. "But, I do feel
In the 2010 draft, the Ravens feel like they made significant improvements in three areas of need: at tight end, at defensive tackle, and in the pass rush. But there was one perceived weakness which did not get addressed. That position, of course, is cornerback. Some fans are frustrated by the Ravens' decision not to draft a corner with one of their seven picks, feeling
The Ravens concluded their 2010 draft by selecting Ramon Harewood, a developmental offensive tackle out of Morehouse. Harewood is a really interesting story; he was born and raised in the Barbados and grew up playing rugby, cricket and soccer. The 6-foot-6, 353 pounds tackle is considered very raw, but has a large upside. John Harbaugh mentioned today that he really liked Harewood and hoped that
I'm playing catch-up a little bit here, but in between John Harbaugh stopping into the media room, me grabbing some lunch (which was fantastic roast beef sandwiches provided by the Ravens), and the two recent Ravens draft picks, things have been busy lately. Dennis Pitta was the Ravens' fourth-round pick, coming to Baltimore with the 114th overall selection. But the BYU tight end feels like
Before I get to some more notes on the Ravens' fifth-round picks, I thought I'd pass along some quick updates courtesy of head coach John Harbaugh. After the Ravens' selection of tight end Dennis Pitta, Harbaugh popped into the media workroom for a quick chat. Needless to say, he seems really pleased with how the Ravens' draft has gone. Harbaugh loves the Sergio Kindle selection,
With back-to-back picks in the fifth round, the Ravens got a wide receiver and another defensive tackle. With the 156th overall pick, the Ravens took David Reed, a wide receiver out of Utah. Reed stands at an even 6-feet. He is considered a slick route-runner and can help in the return game as well. At 157, the Ravens took Syracuse defensive tackle Arthur Jones, a
There's a little bit of news on Ed Reed to pass along, and while it's nothing groundbreaking, it will please Ravens fans. Head coach John Harbaugh has been in touch with Reed, and said today that he's confident that Reed will return next season. Reed also has had contact with new Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin, and he the six-time Pro Bowl safety apparently expressed
The Ravens have taken tight ends with back-to-back picks. After selecting Orgeon's Ed Dickson yesterday in the third round, GM Ozzie Newsome opted to go tight end again in the fourth round, taking BYU's Dennis Pitta. Pitta checks in at 6-foot-4, 245. He's got good speed, is considered a tough guy, and is willing to work over the middle and go up in traffic. The
What day is it? Where am I? Why do I feel like the draft has been going on for about a month and a half? I woke up this morning completely confused, knowing in my drowsy state that it was the last day of the draft, but unaware of pretty much everything else. I spent the first half hour that I was awake thinking that
It might have taken a while for the Ravens to make their first trip to the podium in the 2010 draft, but once Day Two got underway, GM Ozzie Newsome hit his stride. After trading down and stockpiling picks on Thursday, the Ravens used their two second-round selections on guys who were considered by many as first-round talents in outside linebacker Sergio Kindle and defensive
Before I pack up and leave Ravens headquarters for the night, I thought I'd pass along some notes on the Ravens' third pick of the night, Oregon tight end Ed Dickson. Having only two tight ends currently on the roster in Todd Heap and Edgar Jones, the Ravens knew they needed to bolster their depth at that position entering the draft. They were linked to
There's no denying that Sergio Kindle is a talented player. He posted 16 sacks in his junior and senior seasons combined, and had 27.5 tackles for loss during that time frame. But talent aside, there are questions surrounding the Ravens' first pick of the 2010 draft. Kindle has had four procedures on his right knee, and there have been reports that he will need microfracture
After going defense with their first two picks, the Ravens went with a tight end with the 70th overall pick, taking Oregon's Ed Dickson. Dickson checks in at 6-foot-4, 249. He has good speed and is willing to go over the middle to make a catch. We're about to pop in and meet with GM Ozzie Newsome and director of player personnel Eric DeCosta. Back
Terrence Cody had to wait a while, but he's now just where he thought he would be - with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens took the Alabama defensive tackle with the 57th overall pick, adding a big piece (literally and figuratively) to their defensive front. "I had a real good feeling this is where I would be going," Cody said in a conference call with
After going defense with their first pick in the second-round, GM Ozzie Newsome went that route again with the 57th overall pick, taking Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody. Cody, who checks in at a massive 6-foot-3, 360 pounds, will add depth to the interior of the Ravens' defensive line.
Sergio Kindle is thrilled about being selected by the Ravens with the 43rd overall pick in the 2010 Draft Need proof? Here's the Texas outside linebacker's first comment after hopping on a conference call with the Baltimore media: "Are ya'll gonna beep out explicit language? Because man, it feels F'ing good." We just got off the call with Kindle, and if you couldn't tell from
With Ray Lewis making the announcement, the Ravens fittingly added a top defensive player. Texas outside linebacker Sergio Kindle is the Ravens' choice with the 43rd overall pick. Here's a link to Kindle's YouTube highlight reel. The 6-foot-2, 250 linebacker was considered a mid-first-round pick, but dropped because of a medical concern with his right knee. Kindle also suffers from narcolepsy and ADD. Kindle is
A few players linked to the Ravens have already been selected early in the second round, but there are a couple interesting options still on the board with one pick standing in the way of Ozzie Newsome being on the clock. Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski and Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody and East Carolina defensive tackle Linval Joseph are all currently possibilities if the
I'm back at Ravens headquarters for Day Two, and the second-round of the draft is now underway. Hey, maybe we'll get a pick to discuss sometime in the next five hours or so. My running joke is that the Ravens have traded out of the second and third-rounds and have accumulated 25 seventh-round picks. With the new, elongated format, it feels like we've been waiting
Want to know some guys who could be options for the Ravens on Day Two of the draft? OK. I can do that. Here are 10 prospects who might be in play when Ozzie Newsome and Co. are on the clock in the second or third rounds: Chris Cook, CB, Virginia At 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, Cook has a great frame, decent speed, and excellent ball
With the new draft format, teams had all night to assess where they stand after the first round. They also had all night, and will have all day today, to make calls to other teams and possibly move around in rounds two and three. Whether you're looking to trade up or trade down, the new format allows for plenty of dialogue between teams. The expectation
Since trades are apparently the hot topic in this area recently, I thought I'd mention a little nugget that came out of Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta's press conference that took place last night at the conclusion of the first round. While the Ravens made a trade yesterday, tried to make another, and have had talks about making yet another deal, there is one area
The Ravens were major movers and shakers on Day One of the draft, trading out of the first round and acquiring three picks from the Broncos. GM Ozzie Newsome's goal entering the draft was to bolster his allotment of picks, and he did just that, adding second-round, third-round and fourth-round selections in return for the 25th overall pick. But the Ravens might not be done
According to GM Ozzie Newsome, Thursday's decision to trade down out of the first round was not something that came together at the last minute. Newsome says the Ravens had been in talks with multiple teams about trading down from their 25th overall pick for about two weeks. One of those teams was the Broncos. The Ravens and Broncos talked again yesterday, and this morning
Instead of taking defensive tackle Dan Williams, cornerback Kyle Wilson, or one of the other highly-touted prospects still on the board at the 25th pick, the Ravens decided to trade down out of the first round tonight, marking the first time in franchise history that they've done so. In return, the Ravens acquired the Broncos' 43rd, 70th and 114th overall picks, boosting their overall total
The Ravens have traded down out of the first round. With a number of talented defensive players still on the board, Ozzie Newsome opted to trade the 25th overall pick to the Broncos. In return, the Ravens will receive the Broncos' second-round pick (43 overall), third-round pick (70 overall) and fourth-round pick (114 overall). The Ravens now have seven picks in this draft. They have
With the Cowboys trading up to take wide receiver Dez Bryant, what could have been an incredibly tough decision for Ozzie Newsome might have just gotten a little easier. If Bryant had still been on the board at 25, Newsome would have needed to decide whether he wanted the talented but troubled wide receiver in Owings Mills, or if he would rather go a safer
We're currently five picks away from the Ravens being on the clock at No. 25, and a number of players linked to the purple and black are still available. Wide receivers Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, cornerbacks Kyle Wilson and Devin McCourty, tight end Jermaine Gresham, and defensive linemen Dan Williams and Jared Odrick are among those still on the board. Now we're beginning to
This is why mock drafts are worthless. Regardless of how much research draft experts put in, they can't account for all the trades, surprise picks (hello, Tyson Alualu) and madness that makes the draft so interesting. The Philadelphia Eagles were originally scheduled to pick at 24, one slot ahead of the Ravens. Like the Ravens, the Eagles have a need at cornerback, and most mock
Seven picks in around 50 minutes. This is actually moving fairly quickly. The first three picks went exactly as pretty much everyone expected, with Sam Bradford going to the Rams, Ndamukong Suh going to the Lions, and the Buccaneers taking Gerald McCoy with the third overall pick. From there, the Redskins started the run on offensive tackles by taking Trent Williams at No. 4. The
I'm here at Ravens headquarters in Owings Mills, and after some initial internet issues, I'm up and ready to blog through the night. They've got quite a setup here at The Castle, and I'll be switching locations between the media workroom and the auditorium. The auditorium has a big board (seen at right in a blurry BlackBerry photo) which will be updated as the draft
Earlier, I gave you three guys on the offensive side of the ball who I think might be options for the Ravens with the 25th overall pick. Now, let's talk defense. Here are three guys who I see as possibilities for Ozzie Newsome and Co. late in the first round: Jared Odrick, DE/DT, Penn State 6-foot-5, 304 pounds The draft is all about gut feelings,
At one point, it appeared that Trevor Pryce would likely be released this offseason. Now it looks like he'll be sticking around Baltimore for at least another year. Pryce has taken a $2.5 million pay cut this season, according to The National Football Post's Aaron Wilson. Pryce is now set to earn $2 million in base salary in 2010. The pay cut means that the
Assuming that the Ravens stay with the 25th overall pick and don't end up trading down, they will have a number of options when they're on the clock. Those options will be dictated, however, by what the teams in the 20-24 range choose to do. The Texans (who pick at 20) Bengals (at 21), Patriots (at 22) and Eagles (at 24) all have similar needs
After months of mock drafts, hundreds of debates, hours of video of prospects running in spandex, and pounds of hair gel being consumed by Mel Kiper, Draft Day is finally upon us. Well, Draft Day Part I is upon us. Pace yourselves, people. With the new format, we've got three days of intense draft action to get through this year. I don't want anyone getting
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been suspended for six games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, the league announced today. Roethlisberger will have to undergo a comprehensive behavioral evaluation and will have his actions monitored closely by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Depending on Roethlisberger's behavior, Goodell could choose to lower the suspension to four games, or could even raise the ban. This means that
The first thing that came to my mind while initially scanning the Ravens' 2010 regular season schedule was that they likely will get to miss Ben Roethlisberger for one of their two games against the Steelers. Roethlisberger is expected to receive at least a four-game suspension from commissioner Roger Goodell sometime in the coming days, meaning that when the Ravens travel to Pittsburgh Week 4,
Here it is, ladies and gentlemen: the Ravens' 2010 schedule. Clearly a hot commodity right now, the Ravens are scheduled for four primetime regular season games, and they'll open the preseason in primetime as well. "It's a challenging schedule, and with the number of primetime games, it's flattering," team president Dick Cass said in a statement. "We've made the playoffs two years in a row
He won't be having any input in the War Room, but Ray Lewis will play a role in the Ravens' 2010 draft. The future Hall of Fame linebacker, who has been voted by fans as one of the top 25 NFL Draft picks of all time, will take to the podium at Radio City Music Hall on Friday to announce the Ravens' second-round pick, the
Happy schedule release day, everyone. The day many of you have been eagerly anticipating for the last few weeks is here, and at 7 p.m. tonight, we will know how the Ravens' 2010 regular season schedule will look. We already know who the opponents will be and where all the contests will be held, and if you need a refresher on either of those matters,
The Ravens are unable to host their Spring Football Festival at M&T Bank Stadium this weekend because of renovations at the stadium and a scheduling conflict. But if that news has you down in the dumps, I've got something positive to cheer you up: The Orioles and Ravens have announced that they will partner together yet again for the O's Ravens Rally presented by MASN.
Over the course of 14 drafts, the Ravens have selected 15 wide receivers, more than any other positional group. Yet of those 15, few have lived up to expectations. Patrick Johnson, Brandon Stokley, Travis Taylor, Ron Johnson, Devard Darling, Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, Yamon Figurs, and Marcus Smith have all heard their names called by the Ravens within the first four rounds over the years.
If you had any doubts about how much the guys in the Ravens' front office enjoy this time of year, you won't after reading this entry. For GM Ozzie Newsome, director of player personnel Eric DeCosta and director of college scouting Joe Hortiz, this is when they get the chance to shine. The months leading up to the draft are filled with long hours, stressful
Of all the draft coverage that I've seen on TV over the last couple months (and it's been quite a bit), I think one of the more entertaining recurring segments has been former NFL head coach and now ESPN analyst Jon Gruden sitting down with this year's top quarterback prospects. Gruden spent one-on-one time with Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow, and
Here's a question that NFL general managers and front office staffers will have to ask themselves going into next week's draft: How do I feel about selecting a player who missed a good amount of playing time in college last season? Whether it be because of injuries or disciplinary reasons, there are a number of draft prospects who did not get a lot of (if
In 2009, the Ravens had a quarterback that threw for over 3,600 yards, 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his second season. They had a running back who was second in the league in total yards from scrimmage, another running back who posted 14 total touchdowns, and a Pro Bowl fullback. They had a wide receiver who quietly topped the 1,000 yards receiving mark and
Derrick Mason says he "feels great" about the additions of Anquan Boldin and Donte' Stallworth, and loves the way that the Ravens' wide receiving corps is shaping up. Having said that (there's a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" joke for you), some players in Mason's shoes might worry that the offseason acquisitions will affect their role in the Ravens' offense. According to Mason, however, that's not part
Derrick Mason considered retiring. Like Ray Lewis last offseason, he "flirted" with other teams around the league. But in the end, Mason decided that he wanted to play football again, and he wanted to play for the Ravens. "For me, it was a no-brainer to sign back because I don't think there was any other opportunity that was as good as this one considering who
Well, I can finally answer the questions about when the 2010 regular season schedule will get released. The big day will take place next Tuesday. The NFL Network will air a special at 7 p.m., and I'll obviously have full coverage right here. Another quick note: Guard Chris Chester and linebacker Prescott Burgess have signed their restricted free agent tenders, the team announced. Both Chester
By now, we're all aware of the fact that the Ravens currently own only five picks in next week's draft. Look around the rest of the AFC North, and you'll see the Steelers, Browns, and Bengals sporting a much larger allotment of picks (11, 10 and nine, respectively). Does that bother Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome? "Does it bother me that they probably don't have as
Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and director of player personnel Eric DeCosta like to say that they're in the pick business. The more picks they have, the greater chance they have to find the next Pro Bowler, quality starter, or solid special teams contributor. As of right now, Newsome and DeCosta only have five picks at their disposal in what's considered a very deep draft, which
There have been a lot of rumors circling around the league regarding Jared Gaither and various teams that might be interested trading for the Ravens' starting left tackle. But general manager Ozzie Newsome said today that so far, no teams have contacted him about possibly acquiring the 6-foot-9, 340 pounder. In fact, Newsome said that he hasn't received calls about any player on the Ravens'
What has been expected for quite some time will become official today at 4 p.m. Samari Rolle will have his contract terminated by the Ravens. General manager Ozzie Newsome kicked off today's Pre-Draft Media Luncheon by making the announcement that the team and the 33-year-old cornerback will part ways, ending Rolle's five-year stint with the Ravens after seven years in Tennessee. Rolle battled multiple serious
Today is an exciting day in Owings Mills, as a host of media members will converge on The Castle for the Ravens' annual Pre-Draft Luncheon. At least that's how the team refers to the event. Those who attend jokingly call it the Liar's Luncheon. General manager Ozzie Newsome, head coach John Harbaugh, director of player personnel Eric DeCosta and director of college scouting Joe Hortiz
Kicker Billy Cundiff and quarterback John Beck officially returned to the Ravens today by signing their restricted free agent tenders. Cundiff's news comes courtesy of his agent, who also announced that the 30-year-old kicker became a father a week ago. Cundiff was given the low tender, meaning he'll earn $1.1 million if he makes the team. Now, the only question is what other kicker will
While the Ravens have used this offseason to make dramatic improvements to their wide receiving corps and set themselves up for another strong season, their chief rivals appear to be taking a couple huge steps backwards. The Steelers decided to cut ties with their top wide receiver last night, trading Santonio Holmes to the Jets for a fifth-round pick in this month's draft. Holmes, who
The Ravens made a move in their front office yesterday, promoting Al Saunders to Senior Offensive Consultant for the 2010 season. Saunders, who has 27 years of NFL coaching experience, was quietly was brought into the fold last season. He was one of the offensive gurus with the Rams back in the Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce, Tory Holt days. That offense became known as "The
We've heard a lot about Jermaine Gresham, Kyle Wilson and Devin McCourty over the last couple weeks when discussing the Ravens' options with the 25th pick in the draft. But one guy who might by flying under the radar a little bit is Penn State defensive lineman Jared Odrick. Odrick, who was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year last season, checks in
Welcome to our new digs here at MASNsports.com and my new Ravens landing page. It all looks pretty sharp, huh? I've got a couple quick number changes to pass along, for those of you keeping tabs at home. Now that Anquan Boldin is in town and is set to wear No. 81, third-year wide receiver Marcus Smith will be moving to No. 11, according to
The Ravens' list of possible upgrades at the kicker position might have just shrunk to one. Three days after the Cardinals signed Jay Feely as their new place kicker, the guy whose job he took, Neil Rackers, has signed with the Texans. That news comes according to ESPN. That leaves Shayne Graham, the former Bengal, as the one free agent option who would present a
Some might applaud the Philadelphia Eagles for respecting Donovan McNabb's wishes and trading him to the Redskins instead of other interested (and more playoff-challenged) teams. My guess is that many in the Philly area are not choosing to react that way. Yesterday's monster NFC East trade that sent the Eagles' longtime starting QB to one of their most hated rivals registers as one of the
Donte' Stallworth is ready to move on, but he knows he'll never forget the tragic mistake that came back on March 14 of last year. Early that morning, Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian while driving drunk in Miami Beach. The incident led to a 30-day jail sentence (of which Stallworth served 24 days before being released), two years of house arrest, eight years of
The quarterback carousel is spinning out of control. Jake Delhomme, Charlie Whitehurst, Seneca Wallace, Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, Shaun Hill, Rex Grossman, David Carr, Jim Sorgi, and A.J. Feeley have all found new homes in the last month. Meanwhile, Troy Smith is still in Baltimore. And in what's likely a related move, Smith has decided to change agents. The Ravens' backup quarterback has hired Neil
